The euro zone's dominant service sector expanded for the second consecutive month and at its fastest pace in 22 months, led by France, with new business growth also near a two-year high, a survey showed today.
The figures will likely further convince the European Central Bank and financial markets that the 16-nation bloc has emerged from a deep recession.
Markit's final Eurozone Services Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) of around 2,000 companies ranging from hotels to banks, rose to its highest reading since December 2007 in October of 52.6, up from 50.9 in September.
That was revised up from forecasts and a flash reading of 52.3 and marked the second consecutive month the index was above the 50.0 mark that divides growth from contraction.
The index was boosted by a surge in activity in France and continued growth in Germany while the Italian service sector grew for the first time in 23 months.
Spain was the only one of the big four euro zone countries whose sector continued to contract but at 47.7 the index was also at a 22-month high.
"France in particular is seeing services activity increase sharply to help drive the region out of recession, making up for some loss of momentum in Germany," said Chris Williamson at data provider Markit.
The survey showed the outlook for the euro zone is improving. The new business index rose to 52.7 in October, the highest since November 2007, above the flash estimate of 51.9 released last week and well above September's 50.7.
The figures followed similar data released on Monday that showed euro zone factory business activity expanded for the first time in 17 months during October.
Those combined rises took the Composite PMI up to 53.0 from 51.1 in September, in line with the flash estimate and expectations. That was the highest reading since December 2007.
The ECB has slashed rates to a record low of 1.0 per cent and adopted a loose monetary policy in an effort to boost an economy that contracted for five consecutive quarters.
Economists polled by Reuters think the euro zone economy has turned a corner, predicting 0.4 per cent growth in the third quarter just gone by and a slightly slower 0.2 per cent in the October-December period.
Reuters